Rail industry preparing for national strikes

[gimmea50anyday]

if the railway is so essential, it should be treated like it is, but I’ve never felt so undervalued, over the past 2 years.

When i first joined TPE as staff rewards we used to get a family fun day out in september, family panto tickets or theatre tickets for two, a love2shop bonus card at christmas inside the corporate christmas card. Over the years and bit by bit these perks eroded away. all that was left Pre-covid was the corporate christmas card but at least the card was still posted, this year It was emailed. How undervalued can you get?

all i see now is a company that knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Too many management meetings have shown me that all they are interested in is the shareholder value and the DfTs box ticking. As long as that mindset remains the rail industry will never serve the publics best interest, that is why morale is as low as it is.

Staff have spoken. They have been in the doldrums for the last 2-3 years and collectively agreed to put up with it while covid was dealt with. We are now well passed the living with it stage yet the favour hasn't been returned. If this doesn't send the message out that issues need dealing with then I dont know what will. There are two solutions the government can take here, negotiate or legislate. Rail staff want to negotiate, we have a railway to run after all. Legislate will just see the red wall regain its strength

 

[Mag_seven]

Some dramatic comments here tonight lol.

Yes I think people on both "sides" just need to cool it a bit. In short the RMT have started the process, and the next "move" is to see how the employers respond.

I think we should all stop getting angry with one another and see what happens next.

 

[LOL The Irony]

If it could than the Tories should be thrown out lol

throw labour and the unions out with them and I'll be happy. Eff the lot of them and shame.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

When i first joined TPE as staff rewards we used to get a family fun day out in september, family panto tickets or theatre tickets for two, a love2shop bonus card at christmas inside the corporate christmas card. Over the years and bit by bit these perks eroded away. all that was left Pre-covid was the corporate christmas card but at least the card was still posted, this year It was emailed. How undervalued can you get?

all i see now is a company that knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Too many management meetings have shown me that all they are interested in is the shareholder value and the DfTs box ticking. As long as that mindset remains the rail industry will never serve the publics best interest, that is why morale is as low as it is.

Staff have spoken. They have been in the doldrums for the last 2-3 years and collectively agreed to put up with it while covid was dealt with. We are now well passed the living with it stage yet the favour hasn't been returned. If this doesn't send the message out that issues need dealing with then I dont know what will. There are two solutions the government can take here, negotiate or legislate. Rail staff want to negotiate, we have a railway to run after all. Legislate will just see the red wall regain its strength

Exactly the same with Northern..Exactly

 

[D200]

If it can be proven to be deliberately misleading then I believe it can, yes. If I were in the shoes of any of the TOCs I'd be seeking to urgently prove that the ticket office closures document published by the RMT was a load of nonsense.

Let’s hope the media get thrown out some of the drivel being spouted already about it being a drivers strike is very misleading also.
Well done RMT lets hope you kick some arse stand tall

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2022 ==

throw labour and the unions out with them and I'll be happy. Eff the lot of them and shame.

Here here

 

[Tomp94]

The Daily Mail comment boards are going to be interesting tonight lol

 

[Gems]

If it could than the Tories should be thrown out lol

Ohhh. Out of the top drawer.

 

[43066]

And I hope it ends in a similar way.

What closing the railway and importing a much cheaper one from abroad? How will that work exactly?!

 

[shakey1961]

While I understand workers have a right to proper pay & working conditions, they are on a good salary. Moan and whinge over everything. I've been on very long term disability benefits so I'm stuck on a fixed income each month. I can't go on strike for more money and yes I'd love a job anywhere, especially on the railways. £25k a year for a guard, £2k a month, I would be over the moon with that. RMT are far too militant. Damn RMT that's holding up the introduction of the Class 777 on Merseyrail. It's mad!! Well, I think it'll be the death of the railways just like the miners.

 

[D200]

It’s like waiting for the Elections in the USA

 

[dk1]

Let’s hope the media get thrown out some of the drivel being spouted already about it being a drivers strike is very misleading also.
Well done RMT lets hope you kick some arse stand tall

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2022 ==


Here here

I think it’s Hear Hear.

 

[43066]

I think we should all stop getting angry with one another and see what happens next.

I agree. Sadly these conversations do seem to get increasingly bitter with each passing year!

 

[Peregrine 4903]

While I understand workers have a right to proper pay & working conditions, they are on a good salary. Moan and whinge over everything. I've been on very long term disability benefits so I'm stuck on a fixed income each month. I can't go on strike for more money and yes I'd love a job anywhere, especially on the railways. £25k a year for a guard, £2k a month, I would be over the moon with that. RMT are far too militant. Damn RMT that's holding up the introduction of the Class 777 on Merseyrail. It's mad!! Well, I think it'll be the death of the railways just like the miners.

Not sure when £25k a year has ever been £2k a month.

 

[LittleAH]

When i first joined TPE as staff rewards we used to get a family fun day out in september, family panto tickets or theatre tickets for two, a love2shop bonus card at christmas inside the corporate christmas card. Over the years and bit by bit these perks eroded away. all that was left Pre-covid was the corporate christmas card but at least the card was still posted, this year It was emailed. How undervalued can you get?

all i see now is a company that knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Too many management meetings have shown me that all they are interested in is the shareholder value and the DfTs box ticking. As long as that mindset remains the rail industry will never serve the publics best interest, that is why morale is as low as it is.

Staff have spoken. They have been in the doldrums for the last 2-3 years and collectively agreed to put up with it while covid was dealt with. We are now well passed the living with it stage yet the favour hasn't been returned. If this doesn't send the message out that issues need dealing with then I dont know what will. There are two solutions the government can take here, negotiate or legislate. Rail staff want to negotiate, we have a railway to run after all. Legislate will just see the red wall regain its strength

Welcome to the world of public ownership all but in name. RMT have been pushing for it for years - reality bites. Ask teachers, nurses, doctors, council employees.

 

[dk1]

I agree. Sadly these conversations do seem to get increasingly bitter with each passing year!

I was thinking that too even though it bothers me little. Used to just be Boxing Day discussions that ruffled the most feathers.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

While I understand workers have a right to proper pay & working conditions, they are on a good salary. Moan and whinge over everything. I've been on very long term disability benefits so I'm stuck on a fixed income each month. I can't go on strike for more money and yes I'd love a job anywhere, especially on the railways. £25k a year for a guard, £2k a month, I would be over the moon with that. RMT are far too militant. Damn RMT that's holding up the introduction of the Class 777 on Merseyrail. It's mad!! Well, I think it'll be the death of the railways just like the miners.

Even though I sympathise why should other people have to lose? It isn't Rail Staffs fault you have a disability

 

[ainsworth74]

Not sure when £25k a year has ever been £2k a month.

It's £2k per month gross. Obviously net (i.e. take home) will be less.

 

[43096]

In many ways I don't disagree with that but I have said all along I think the current Government have been up for a fight with the Rail Unions. In the past the privatised operators have, as a rule, shied away from major confrontation. Now because they are effectively publicly owned the battle is at the door or the Government.

This could be a watershed moment for how the rails are operated and funded.

I wouldn't be surprised that, if this ends up resulting in lengthy strike action, that the Government takes the option of addressing several issues once and for all by issuing new contracts across the industry:
- national pay bargaining (to stop the market between TOCs and the resulting wage inflation).
- DOO-P in all drivers' contracts.
- Sundays in the working week.
- 40hr week (the increase from 35hr week would probably resource Sundays to a large degree).
- Pay increase - perhaps around 3%?

It would likely then be a case of sign the new contract or you're out. At the same time, things like ticket offices would have a major cull to take cost out of the industry.

 

[BrummieBobby]

As far as I can tell, the narrative has already been written that this is all about pay. It is not.

I work as a signalman; the three areas that I sign all have known, reported faults and some form of degraded working. Every single shift, degraded working is in place. Reducing the number of maintenance staff, cutting patrols and resorting to a fix on fail method of maintaining the infrastructure WILL have consequences with regards to safety; it will cause delays as I am forced to caution trains and deal with Emergency Speed Restrictions due to the infrastructure falling to pieces.

This is about more than just pay.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Shame for fighting for what I and 1000s of my colleagues believe is right... No Shame there..In fact I am proud

 

[DanNCL]

all i see now is a company that knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing. Too many management meetings have shown me that all they are interested in is the shareholder value and the DfTs box ticking. As long as that mindset remains the rail industry will never serve the publics best interest, that is why morale is as low as it is.

I'm not an employee but I will absolutely agree with that for TPE from a passenger perspective.

Not sure when £25k a year has ever been £2k a month.

£2k a month would actually only be £24k a year, so it's actually just over £2k a month.

Welcome to the world of public ownership all but in name. RMT have been pushing for it for years - reality bites. Ask teachers, nurses, doctors, council employees.

Might as well rename it Great British Railways, oh wait...

 

[ar10642]

What closing the railway and importing a much cheaper one from abroad? How will that work exactly?!

They will close railways full stop, especially some of the basket case northern ones. A lot of them really aren't as essential as some like to think.

 

[D200]

While I understand workers have a right to proper pay & working conditions, they are on a good salary. Moan and whinge over everything. I've been on very long term disability benefits so I'm stuck on a fixed income each month. I can't go on strike for more money and yes I'd love a job anywhere, especially on the railways. £25k a year for a guard, £2k a month, I would be over the moon with that. RMT are far too militant. Damn RMT that's holding up the introduction of the Class 777 on Merseyrail. It's mad!! Well, I think it'll be the death of the railways just like the miners.

If you would like a job on the railways then apply...

End of the day the only reason the pay is ok but dwindling due to the ineptitude of the government etc is because the unions and grafters of time gone by fought for conditions. If this fight goes under then all of the future generations will suffer. This fight is not for now it’s for the future. If these bigwigs have their way DOO etc will be wide spread job cuts, safety implications. This fight is more than about few quid it’s about conditions.

 

[Andyh82]

I agree. Sadly these conversations do seem to get increasingly bitter with each passing year!

Certain posters seem to post frequently in threads like this just to wind people up so it’s no wonder

 

[LOL The Irony]

Even though I sympathise why should other people have to lose? It isn't Rail Staffs fault you have a disability

Caught in 4k. Might I remind you that some people, including myself rely on social interactions to stay sane. Something we can only have via public transport. So excuse us if we might be a little upset here.

 

[dk1]

They will close railways full stop, especially some of the basket case northern ones. A lot of them really aren't as essential as some like to think.

Of course they won’t.

 

[dctraindriver]

Well I for one and very angry right now.

We need strong anti-strike legislation immediately - Too late for now but it is not right that the RMT can hold the country to ransom whenever they feel like it without any regard for the people that you are harming.

Another Summer down the drain - thanks lads - at least that is tomorrow sorted to cancel all of my plans.

Hopefully you’ve got access to a car, bus or feet to get yourself out and about to enjoy the summer.

 

[johncrossley]

For the train tickets, yes. But if the hotel is non-refundable that's a big hit to take.

A lot of the time, strikes are called and you have to make alternative arrangements which sometimes cost a lot of money, or you cancel what you had planned and take the financial hit or disappointment. Then the strike is called off at the last minute but you are still stuck with as much inconvenience as if the strike had gone ahead. The union claims brownie points at a later date because it didn't go on strike, but it caused disruption all the same.

 

[Fokx]

£25k a year for a guard, £2k a month, I would be over the moon with that. RMT are far too militant. Damn RMT that's holding up the introduction of the Class 777 on Merseyrail. It's mad!! Well, I think it'll be the death of the railways just like the miners.

A salary of £25K a year is £13.69 an hour for someone working 35 hours a week. That’s still not an impressive salary.

£9.90 is the UK living wage
£9.50 is the minimum wage (over 22’s)

One of my local bus companies is hiring bus drivers for £13 an hour for perspective

 

[43066]

I wouldn't be surprised that, if this ends up resulting in lengthy strike action, that the Government takes the option of addressing several issues once and for all by issuing new contracts across the industry:
- national pay bargaining (to stop the market between TOCs and the resulting wage inflation).
- DOO-P in all drivers' contracts.
- Sundays in the working week.
- 40hr week (the increase from 35hr week would probably resource Sundays to a large degree).
- Pay increase - perhaps around 3%?

It would likely then be a case of sign the new contract or you're out. At the same time, things like ticket offices would have a major cull to take cost out of the industry.

It would be as if all your Christmases had come at once*!

*apart from the pay increase.

They will close railways full stop, especially some of the basket case northern ones. A lot of them really aren't as essential as some like to think.

Does that mean I can be on permanent rest days?